Top 3 Attractions for Families in Edinburgh

Edinburgh is a great place to visit with children. Full of parks and open spaces, historic buildings to explore, theatres and animal parks, children of all ages will love taking a holiday here. So book your family into a Travelodge hotel in Edinburgh and find out what this lively city has instore for you. Here are 3 of the most unmissable family friendly attractions that deserve a spot on any holiday itinerary:

Edinburgh Castle

No visit to Edinburgh would be complete without a visit to the castle. Thousands of years of history can be found between the walls of this ancient mountain top castle. You’ll see where fierce Iron Age warriors defended their fort, where Kings and Queens of Scotland were born, crowned and died. Hear stories of witchcraft, see where prisoners of war escaped the castle and hear the mighty roar of the one o’clock gun as this huge cannon is fired dead on 1pm every day (except Sundays). There’s a special quiz that children will love to fill in as they explore the castle, discovering its secrets along the way. Maybe they’ll be lucky enough to win a prize to top off the visit nicely.

The Edinburgh Dungeon

A popular choice for families with older children Edinburgh Dungeons are a thrilling journey through the murky past of Scotland’s capital city. Home to eleven live shows and two rides, the dungeons bring together some great actors and amazing special effects to thrill you, make you laugh out loud and give you a bit of a fright. You’ll experience what it was like in a courtroom hundreds of years ago, find out why people were sentenced for crimes they didn’t commit and some of the bonkers punishments handed down to them. It’s a great interactive part of the show, where you can even be charged with something bizarre too. Other popular shows are the torturer, the boat ride where you encounter an infamous family of cannibals, see Mary King’s ghost and find out about Maggie Dickson, a woman hanged for concealing her pregnancy who seemingly came back to life in her coffin enroute to her burial place and had a very lucky escape. A brilliant attraction to visit for those with a ghoulish sense of humour!

Gorgie City Farm

A free community run farm in the heart of the city, Gorgie City Farm is a great day out with the children. You can get up close to the animals, find out what they eat and hold some of them too – which is always popular with the little ones. On Saturdays and during school holidays 8 – 12 year olds can become farmers for the day and there are lots of extra special events throughout the year to enjoy too. Toddlers will love the playgroup on Thursdays at 10am featuring farm themed stories, crafts, play and songs before visiting the animals. This little farm is a real treat to visit with children of all ages.

No matter how old your children are, there’s always something to keep them occupied come rain or shine in Edinburgh. It’s an affordable alternative to the usual week or two on the costas, and sure to be enjoyed just as much, so why not discover what Edinburgh has to offer your family for your next holiday.